Binky to the Rescue

By Ashley Spires

While in hot pursuit of an alien invader (a bug), Binky suddenly finds himself in outer space (outside) and must rescue his copilot Ted (stuffed mousie) from an enemy warship (wasps’ nest)! Will Binky be able to save his best friend?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kids Can Press
• Release date: Feb 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781771380713

Ashley Spires

Author and illustrator Ashley Spires is the creator of the Binky The Space Cat series of junior graphic novels, which have earned her numerous awards, including the Silver Birch Express and the Hackmatack. Her picture books, including Larf, Small Saul, and The Most Magnificent Thing, are known for providing readers, young and old, with a good laugh. When not drawing, she is often jogging with her dog Gordon or wrangling her three cats, Penny, Fran and Gracie. She lives in British Columbia.

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Reviews for Binky to the Rescue

[ennuiprayer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After abandoning his plans for space travel to protect his humans, Binky gave up on any chance for stepping foot outside the space station. That is, until he accidentally falls out of a window. He always knew that being a member of F.U.R.S.T. came with its share of dangers, but space is a dangerous place for a kitty. Luckily his humans come to HIS rescue. Everything returns to normal until - GASP!!! Where's his best friend, Ted? Outside!!! Right beneath the alien spacecraft!!! Will Binky take his chances in outer space, or will his first and only visit spell doom for his mousie?

Ashley Spires does not disappoint in the follow up to Binky the Space Cat. It's as hilarious as its predecessor and its successor - just as gassy, too!

[kimjd_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Binky the Space Cat is back, and is as busy as ever, protecting his space station and his humans from invading aliens (bugs). When Binky is a little too overzealous in his pursuit of aliens, he falls through the bathroom window and lands (gasp) in outer space. Young readers will love being one up on Binky as they quickly realize that the space station is his house and outer space is the yard. Binky's quick thinking allows him to find an oxygen source (uh, garden hose) just in time, and the panels showing him sucking down air from the hose are priceless. When a swarm of aliens attacks, Binky's human sweeps him up and gets him safely inside, away from the bees, but when Binky realizes that his purple stuffed co-pilot Ted has been left behind in the yard/ outer space, he is determined to rescue his mousie friend. He embarks on a daring plan, involving digging a tunnel from the kitchen floor under the house's foundation and out to the yard (his humans don't notice a thing), and saves Ted in the nick of time. The graphic novel format is easy enough for students making the transition to chapter books, and Binky is just plain hilarious.

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Heroic Binky in hot pursuit of alien invaders!

[mal2012-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great drawings and funny delivery.

[smiler69 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The second instalment in the adventure of Binky the space/house cat. Here, Binky accidentally exits into "Outer Space" (falls out the bathroom window) where he becomes a victim of a vicious attack by aliens (a swarm of bees) and must rescue his side-kick (a tiny teddy-bear) from the aliens when his little friend is accidentally left outside. Cute, but only recommended if you couldn't get enough with Binky the Space Cat. I might borrow the third book, just because.

[kaledrina_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Grades 1 and upHow many of you have cats at home? Do they ever act weird? Probably not as weird as Binky.You see, Binky is a little…. Well, let’s just say he’s a little confused. (It’s nicer to say it that way.)But let’s start from the beginning.Today, Binky FINALLY got a letter from the Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel ROCKET SHIP. (F.U.R.S.T. for short) The only problem with that is Binky has never ever been outside of the space station he calls home. Outer space just isn’t safe for ordinary cats – but Binky is not just an ordinary cat anymore. He is an officially certified Space Cat, sworn to protect his humans from alien invaders and travel the galaxy. Read about Binky’s preparations for space travel in Binky the Space Cat and the second thrilling Binky adventure, Binky to the Rescue.

[elizajane_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reason for Reading: This is a Cybils '10 nominee and required reading for me as a graphic novels panelist.I absolutely *loved* Binky's first adventure, and while, this, his second adventure wasn't quite as stupendous as the first it didn't fall far. My main issue would be that "Space Cat" had such a rich, full plot while "To the Rescue" is a fairly basic plot comparatively. However, it still has all the wonderful qualities I loved the first time around. Binky is such the quintessential cat and this time he is busy ridding the house of aliens (which happen to be wasps who have a warship nearby). Binky is so involved in his duties that he doesn't pay attention to his surroundings and makes quite a mess of the house and then accidentally falls out a window. This part was hilarious, he sticks a garden hose in his mouth for an oxygen supply, and explores the new world of outer space which wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for all the aliens (esp. the wasps).The humour of Binky is hilarious in an understated manner, he takes himself quite seriously. And the artwork is beautiful. I love the way Spires uses a muted, limited palette of colours mainly browns, blues and greens with just a tiny splash of colour here and there, for ex. the red hat on a garden gnome. A great follow-up that leaves one begging for more Binky books. While these are children's books, I also think they would make perfect gifts for the adult cat lover as they are just so cute.